Effects of the calcium-mediated enzymatic cross-linking of membrane proteins on cellular deformability

Journal Article · Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1981 · J. Membr. Biol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02007633· OSTI ID:5177181

Smith, B D ^[1]; LaCelle, P L; Siefring, Jr, G E; Lowe-Krentz, L; Lorand, L

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1. Univ. of Rochester, NY

Excess calcium binding affects the shape and dynamics of cellular deformation of human erythrocytes. It may be hypothesized that incorporation of calcium may modify cellular deformability by processes which include specific cross-linking of membrane proteins with resultant changes in cell shape and deformability. Since previous studies indicate that accumulation of calcium ions causes development of ..gamma..-glutamyl-epsilon-lysine bridges in membrane proteins, under control of a membrane transamidating enzyme which specifically requires calcium ions for activation, experiments were devised to examine the relationship between cross-linking and deformability and to determine the effects of specific inhibitor of membrane protein cross-linking on the calcium-dependent modification of erythrocyte to the echinocytic shape. The elastic shear modulus of the membrane was not significantly affected by calcium-induced cross-linking, indicating that induced shape change, not altered elasticity, causes the observed reduction in cellular deformability. These findings support the interpretation that Ca/sup + +/-induced and transamidase-catalyzed cross-linking of membrane proteins contributes to fixation of altered cellular shape and decreased cellular deformability.

• DOE Contract Number: AC02-76EV03490
• OSTI ID: 5177181
• Journal Information: J. Membr. Biol.; (United States), Vol. 61
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
CALCIUM
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
ERYTHROCYTES
ULTRASTRUCTURAL CHANGES
CATIONS
CELL MEMBRANES
CROSS-LINKING
ENZYMES
PROTEINS
ALKALINE EARTH METALS
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BLOOD
BLOOD CELLS
BODY FLUIDS
CELL CONSTITUENTS
CHARGED PARTICLES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
ELEMENTS
IONS
MATERIALS
MEMBRANES
METALS
MORPHOLOGICAL CHANGES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
POLYMERIZATION
550300* - Cytology